Special report to everyone not living underneath the cursed Humboldt County coastal marine layer: Unlike where you live, today has been cold. Cold, gray, miserable.

The forecast high temperature in Eureka for today was a frigid 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Here are some other locations along roughly the same line of latitude that Eureka sits on, with their forecast highs:

• Redding: 91 degrees
• Salt Lake City: 89 degrees
• Lincoln, Nebraska: 87 degrees
• Allentown, Penn.: 78 degrees
• New York City: 77 degrees
• Salamanca, Spain: 97 degrees
• Naples: 84 degrees
• Istanbul: 84 degrees
• Beijing: 103 degrees

… etc. Everywhere is at minimum 20 degrees warmer than we are.

Are we complaining? Yes. Do we have a right to complain? Probably not. These gray skies will keep us snuggling up and dressing in layers long after the rest of the planet has burned to the ground. But the deal is supposed to be this: In the summertime, which is now, we are supposed to get gray skies up until about noon, at which point the powerful sun burns through and we get Vitamin D and temps into the 60s – or even the 70s! — until night falls. Then we do it all over again the next day. That’s how it’s supposed to work.

Not this year, though. The long, long winter has transitioned into … whatever this is. It left us wondering: Exactly how much sun have we received this year? How many hours of pure direct light have we enjoyed? Sure don’t seem like much!

Would you like to guess? Because this is more or less calculable, it turns out. Our good friends at the National Weather Service office on Woodley Island take observations every hour of the day, every day of the year. The Outpost robots have snatched that information going back many years, and we have it tucked away in our databases, finally to be put to good use.

There were 2,196 hours of daytime in Eureka between Jan. 1, 2023 and 1 p.m. today. Those hours were placed into one of 11 categories by the meteorologists. One of those categories is “clear” — i.e., sunny. The others are all variations on the theme of “gray.”

Want to stop and take a guess how many sunny hours we’ve received so far since New Year’s Day?

• Overcast: 721
• Partly Cloudy: 441
• Mostly Cloudy: 402
• Rain: 215
• Mist: 128
• Fog: 11
• Snow: 8
• Haze: 26
• Drizzle: 33
• Hail: 2
• Clear: 209

A grand total of 209 hours — fewer than 10 percent of the daylight hours since the beginning of the year — involved the clear unfettered sun shining from the sky onto our heads.

Admittedly, this is a lot more than we had thought it would be. The general consensus guess in the Outpost office was somewhere in the low two figures. Still: Maddening. Worse odds than Russian roulette.

Here’s a spreadsheet if you want to check the data.

Dare we hold out hope for the morrow? The good people of Woodley Island, unswayed the fatalism to which normal humans like us are prone, promise “decreasing clouds” to “partly sunny” to “mostly sunny” to downright actually all-the-way “sunny” weather over the next six days. We shall see!

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It is nearly time again for the Arcata Planning Commission to convene, and if you follow the commission meetings much then you know that recently the commission has been almost exclusively spending its meeting time discussing the city’s General Plan and, one of Arcata’s hottest topics – the Gateway Area Plan. This week is no different, with the only item on the agenda being to “consider a recommendation to the City Council on the General Plan Updates.”

In case you aren’t up-to-date on the Gateway Area Plan, here’s a quick recap: With things like HSU becoming Cal Poly Humboldt and climate change making coastal Humboldt’s weather increasingly more attractive, Arcata’s population is expected to explode in the coming years. To accommodate that growth and to meet state housing requirements, city staff came up with the Gateway Area Plan – which will rezone about 138 acres of Arcata near downtown to allow for high-density housing and mixed-use developments. The city has been working on this plan for years and over the last several months the Planning Commission has been going over every detail of the General Plan, the Gateway Area Plan and the zoning code that will make these new developments possible. 

During this week’s meeting the commission is slated to focus on its “bike rack” items – topics that have come up during recent discussions that the commission decided to table for later discussion (this is often referred to as a meeting “parking lot,” but is being called a “bike rack” to be more aligned with Arcata’s vibe.) Basically, the commission is going over any final topics that need to be discussed in preparation for its next meeting on July 11, when the commission is slated to make its recommendations to the Arcata City Council on the General Plan and Gateway Plan. 

After the Planning Commission makes its recommendations, the council and commission will be holding multiple joint study sessions during the late summer and early fall, to go over all of the documents together. The Environmental Impact Report should be ready for review by late fall/ early winter and, if everything goes as planned, the city council should be ready to adopt the General Plan and Gateway Area Plan by spring, 2024. 

Between now and then, city staff are still taking public feedback on the documents. You can provide feedback by attending the Planning Commission meeting, or other upcoming meetings, or by emailing comdev@cityofarcata.org.  

The Arcata Planning Commission meets Tuesday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Arcata City Hall – 736 F Street. You can view the full agenda and directions on how to participate here.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• ARCATA’S GATEWAY PLAN: City Releases Draft Plan For Developing Housing in the 138-Acre ‘Gateway Area’ of Town, and Wants Your Input
• Arcata City Council Approves Plan to Convert Valley West Hotels to Homeless Housing, Reviews ‘Gateway Area Plan’ to Create High-Density Housing in Town
• GUEST OPINION: Gateway Plan Does Housing the Right Way
• ARCATA’S GATEWAY PLAN: Planners Propose Converting K and L to One-Way Streets; Transportation and Safety Committee Will Review Plan This Evening
• Confused About Arcata’s Gateway Area Plan? There are Still Opportunities to Learn More and Provide Feedback About How You Want the City to Create More Housing
• Arcata Mayor Atkins-Salazar Can’t Participate in Gateway Plan Work, Says State’s Fair Political Practice Commission in Response to City’s Request for Guidance
• (UPDATE) Arcata’s Mayor Can’t Participate in the City-Defining Gateway Area Plan; These Two Current Candidates for City Council Probably Can’t Either, for the Same Reason
• HUMBOLDT HOLDING UP: Catching Up on the Arcata Gateway Plan With Senior Planner Delo Freitas
• Want to Learn More About Arcata’s Gateway Plan? City Holding Public Meeting on Wednesday to Answer Your Questions
• A Big Week for the Arcata Gateway Area Plan: Planning Commission, Historical Landmarks Committee to Look at the Area’s Past and Future 
• A Big Public Meetings on Nordic Aquafarms and Arcata’s Gateway Area Plan Tonight
• ARCATA’S GATEWAY PLAN: Big Meetings Coming! Planning Commission to Consider New Public Engagement Approach Ahead of Big Study Session Later This Month
• TONIGHT at ARCATA CITY COUNCIL: Council to Review Request for ‘Gateway Plan Advisory Committee’, Receive Update on Wastewater Treatment Plant
• ‘Gateway Plan Advisory Committee’; Councilmembers Brett Watson and Alex Stillman Argue Over Stillman Not Recusing Herself From Gateway Meetings
• ARCATA’S GATEWAY AREA PLAN: Arcata City Council and Planning Commission Joint Study Session Tonight; Maximum Building Heights May be Set
• Big Gateway Study Session Produces Few Tangible Results
• What’s Next for Arcata’s Gateway Area Plan? Community Development Director Offers Clarification on Results of Recent Study Session
• TODAY in the GATEWAY PLAN: Arcata Planning Commission Will Discuss Plan’s Potential ‘Community Benefits’ During Special Meeting
• NEXT UP in the GATEWAY AREA PLAN: Arcata Planning Commission to Discuss Building Designs and Bird Safety at Upcoming Study Session
• GATEWAY AREA PLAN: Arcata Will Host Online Public Workshop Thursday Evening to Gather Your Design Input
• GATEWAY AREA PLAN: Fearing that the Community is Growing Restless, Arcata City Council Discusses Ways to Boost Public Engagement
• Arcata Planning Commission Keeps Proposal to Make K and L Into One-Way Streets on the Table, Looks at Other Short-Term Options to Improve K Street
• NEXT UP in the GATEWAY AREA PLAN: Arcata Planning Commission to Review Draft of the City’s New Form-Based Code that Will Guide New Development in the Gateway

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 25, 2023, at about 7:20 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the area of Highway 299 and Acorn Lane conducted a vehicle investigation on an occupied vehicle with expired registration parked in a pull out along the highway.  

The deputy contacted the driver of the vehicle, 52-year-old Vonda Joyce Liles. While speaking with Liles, the deputy observed drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle in plain view. The deputy detained Liles and a search of the vehicle was initiated.

While searching the vehicle, deputies located over 2 grams of suspected fentanyl, over 1 gram of methamphetamine, approximately 0.46 grams of heroin, various drug paraphernalia, bear mace and a driver’s license that had been reported stolen in a recent vehicle burglary.

Liles was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of felon in possession of tear gas (PC 22810(a)), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11350), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364) and possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

 Vonda Joyce Liles Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility

The number of California prisoners requesting gender-affirming health care more than doubled last year, and the state’s corrections agency expects the trend to continue even as the overall state inmate population is projected to decline.

The estimate comes from budget documents detailing the agency’s responsibilities for two groundbreaking policies the state adopted over the last seven years.

One, in 2017, made California the first state to set standards that would grant gender affirmation surgery to state prison inmates. It followed the state’s approval of surgery for a transgender woman serving a life sentence. She was later transferred to a women’s prison.

The other, a 2021 law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, requires that every person upon entering prison be asked gender-specific questions to determine whether they should be housed in a men’s or women’s facility.

Since the changes took effect, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation found that the number of transgender, intersex and nonbinary inmates consistently grew each year, rising to 1,617 last year. That’s a 234% increase over 2017, according to the documents.

“The vulnerable, transgender and transgender diverse population in CDCR has grown and continues to grow and there are enduring needs that need to be met,” Trisha Wallis, a department senior psychologist who specializes in gender healthcare, said during a budget committee hearing in March.

The agency this year sought a small boost in funding — $2.2 million — to provide the mandated care. The agency’ request was not controversial and moved through the Legislature without pushback this spring. Budget negotiations between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature are expected to conclude this week.

Wallis at the hearing said the program was originally meant to “address equitable access” to safe and optimal gender-affirming care, but she acknowledged that staff shortages led to treatment backlogs.

Backlog grows for gender-affirming care

As of December, 20 inmates since 2017 had received gender-affirming surgery. Another 150 surgeries had been approved, but not completed, according to the budget documents.

In the 2021-22 California government budget year, 270 inmates requested gender-affirming surgeries – up from 99 the previous year.

The state projects 348 inmates will request gender-affirming treatment this year, and 462 next year. The corrections agency says its staff can evaluate no more than three requests each week.

The agency also has received over 364 housing transfer requests since 2021. Only 35 of those were approved and sent to the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla.

Advocates for transgender and nonbinary inmates have urged the state to move faster in providing the surgeries and evaluating other inmates’ requests to transfer to facilities that better suit their needs.

Some of them criticized the agency’s budget request, arguing the state’s $15 billion-a-year prison system already had plenty of money to carry out the policies.

“It’s ridiculous. $2 million for stuff they should already be doing?” said Alex Binsfield, a policy analyst with TGI Justice Project, a San Francisco nonprofit that advocates for incarcerated transgender people. “I don’t think pumping any more money into CDCR is going to fix health care there.”

Transgender advocates also are on guard for signs that the state is refusing transfers for inmates who identify as transgender but have not received gender-affirming medical care.

“Ultimately the housing question should not be a medical question,” said Jen Orthwein, a psychologist who previously provided treatment to transgender inmates in prisons across California.

Terri Hardy, spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said those fears are unfounded.

“Incarcerated people are not required to have gender affirming surgery in order to transfer to an institution consistent with their gender identity,” Hardy wrote in an email to CalMatters.

Lawsuit challenges California prison transfers

Outside of the Capitol, some conservative-leaning and feminist groups have opposed the prison agency’s gender affirming policies.

The Women’s Liberation Front, a feminist advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., sued the state in 2021 to halt certain transfers to the state’s women’s prison in Chowchilla. It argued the transfers put female inmates at greater risk of violence and sexual assault. The lawsuit is playing out in the U.S. Eastern District Court of California.

“The reality that men and women are factually, materially, immutably different, in ways that disadvantage women and necessitate attention to women’s unique needs, supports protection of incarcerated women by providing women-only correctional facilities,” the lawsuit reads.

The Transgender Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a brief challenging thatsuit. The two liberal organizations contend the 2021 law allowing prison transfers protects vulnerable transgender inmates.

Several states have followed California in adopting genders-affirming policies for prisoners. Massachusetts and Connecticut allow prisoners to be transferred to facilities according to their chosen gender identity. New Jersey, New York City and Rhode Island also require that inmates be housed at facilities appropriate to their gender.

Orthwein, the psychologist, urged the state to accommodate more care.

“There should be no difference to their treatment than that of cisgender people,” Orthwein said. “They shouldn’t have to jump through a number of barriers and be poked and prodded for housing.”

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

On June 8, 1958 in South Bend, Indiana, Lynn, Susan, Caroline, Lisa and Jill Abram breathed a sigh of relief that the long-awaited boy was finally born; because the folks weren’t going to stop until they got one. What ensued for our victim, Billy, was unbridled and unsolicited “guidance” from his well-meaning gaggle of sisters. Too bad our vast knowledge didn’t include the common practice that males stand up to urinate. It may or may not be true that it took going to school for him to get the memo.

It is true that school wasn’t really his thing. He was a hands-on guy, curious about everything and had no trouble teaching himself mechanics, horticulture, construction, cabinetry, guitar, just to name a few. He started working at only nine years of age as part of a maintenance crew for a townhome complex where the family was living in Wichita, Kansas. He saved his money and bought a motorbike. He developed a reputation as a “cute little badass” in middle school, introducing marijuana to a couple of friends and even smoking that or tobacco under a portable building while just in elementary school. He was never proud of only making it through the 8th grade, but there was a lot going against him in his home life then. At age 16 he joined sister Lisa (who was 20 at the time) in Colorado. She became his legal guardian and tried like hell to get him to go to high school. He just wasn’t having it but excelled in the woodworking classes at the local community college. Always the adventurer, he got it in his head that he could jump on the train that went by their place daily. Luckily, he was willing to accept the alternative of a hitch-hiking, backpacking camping trip to Estes Park (no backpacks, though; only grocery bags stuffed with inadequate supplies). Fun was had and friends were made.

Billy’s brother from another mother, Kent Meireis, credits Billy for introducing him to (aside from the weed) bicycling, tennis, music, traveling and backpacking. In 1976 they made an epic trip from Wichita to Alabama to Florida and up the east coast where they hiked the Appalachian Trail and then on to Michigan.

From then on, life was mostly about work. He spent six years as a machinist/journeyman for Blanchat Machine Co. in Wichita fabricating airplane parts and components. Colorado continually called to him though, and so in 1982 he joined brother-in-law Ray in the construction business until forming his own company in 1992. During this time, he designed and built his own speculative home and instructed construction classes at Front Range Community College.

Billy and his sister Jill were inseparable until early adulthood drew them apart and they lost touch with each other for a couple of years. The universe stepped in to correct that though. One Christmas Billy was on Long Island visiting his then wife’s family and Jill was there with a friend who was visiting her family. They randomly passed each other walking across a bridge and ended up spending the vacation together.

Craving a change of scenery from Colorado, Billy joined Jill in the Mendocino area of California and continued his construction company in a more scaled-down way until he re-joined Ray in Humboldt County as partner and project superintendent for residential and commercial developments. The housing crash of 2008 took its toll on that endeavor and by then Billy’s body was feeling the effects of years of physical labor. Besides having such valuable expertise and “owning every tool known to man”, he was pretty burned out on the volatility of the construction industry. He was “rode hard and put away wet” (his words, not mine). It was easy then to transition to joining Jill and her partner in an off the grid stewardship of an 80-acre distressed farm in Ettersburg.

In addition to growing crops, raising chickens, putting in a new water system and remodeling the house, Jill invited Billy into shuttling hikers of the Lost Coast Trail. They had big plans and big dreams for this life until it was shattered by Jill having several debilitating strokes and then passing away in 2016. Billy’s grief was and remained profound. One thing that kept him going was that Jill told him she wanted him to keep shuttling.

Billy was so much more than a shuttle driver. He became known by thousands of hikers as a character (“Wild Bill”) who would pack his tobacco pipe for luck before navigating the roads like a boss. He shuttled people on their bucket list hikes from all over the world including many celebrities. His motto was to “get his precious cargo from point A to point B in a safe and timely manner,” and he was true to that in all his actions even if he had to make a safety call to cancel someone after hours of careful planning. He had a deep reverence for the wilderness and wildlife of the King Range and Lost Coast and provided copious information and entertainment for the hikers.

Billy passed away at home on May 20, 2023 from sudden cardiac arrest into the heavenly arms/paws of our mom Dolores “Duz” Harms, sister Jill Abram and numerous beloved pets. Left here to wonder who we’re going to worry and fuss about now are sisters Lynn Sawicky (Rich), Susan Abram, Caroline Abram and Lisa Abram Nelson (Ray). Billy also enjoyed his role as cool uncle to Jenny Sawicky Leon (Rick), Betsy Sawicky, Aaron Sawicky (Takara), Abe Hanna (Jessica), Lindsey Nelson (Jon) and Joel Nelson (d’Arcy); a role that also extended to numerous great nieces and nephews.

Billy’s ashes will be buried at the Olive Chapel Cemetery in New Carlisle, Indiana where we’re literally related to everyone. With loved ones scattered far and wide a digital memorial tribute is planned for the near future. The family wishes to thank Sandy Miles and Alle Rose for their earthly assistance and Billy’s guardian angels for keeping him with us as long as they did and for shuttling him on to his next adventure — in a safe and timely manner.

“It’s not the years in your life, but the life in your years.” -unknown

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On June 22, 2023, Loren Burton Offield Jr passed away in Hoopa after a long battle with cancer. He had been in remission for 12 years and was fighting his second battle with cancer. He was 73 years old. Loren was a proud member of the Karuk Tribe.

Loren was born on June 16, 1950 in Hoopa. He attended River schools and went on to join the Army in 1969. He was an Armor Crewman and also earned a National Defense Service Medal. Loren worked in construction and carpentry, he learned to weld and was an auto mechanic at the Ford Company in San Jose, and he also worked in the woods as a choker setter. He had a keen eye and attention to detail in all his work.

Loren led a very happy and active life filled with family and friends who loved him dearly. He enjoyed many activities, which included, drawing, playing the guitar, rock stacking, martial arts and working on cars. Loren was a very skilled player of horseshoes, darts and pool. He was competitive, skilled, and took pride in the games he played. When playing darts, he could shoot a bullseye with his left and right hand. Loren’s greatest skill and what he enjoyed the most was competing and playing horseshoes. He played up and down the river and earned a well-known reputation for his ability to win. Many experienced players would mention how long it took them to finally win a game against him. Loren would always talk about how he eventually had to let people win just so they would play him again and then he would beat them. Loren was also a traditional Karuk dip net maker and made tons of dip nets for the Ishi Pishi falls.

Loren is survived by his children, Loren “Twofeathers” Offield (Lucki) and Shalayna Offield; grandchildren, Vanessa (Dellavin), Michael Sr (Luca), Marcus (Tiny), Dakota, Kehniwh, Chase, and Lennox James Offield, Nathaniel, Leilanie, and Dominick Dalizon, great-grandchildren; Bravehawk and Faron McCovey, Michael Offield Jr; siblings, Shirley Clark, Donna Smith, Bessie Munson and Betty McKinnon; nieces, Talonna Marshall (Whitsiwe), Sonia Donahue, Unchnanna Cote (Jesse), Helen Thom, Yaamitch Jackson (James) Ashley Donahue, Qosos and Xatimniim Drake, Trella Gillespie, and Gladys Dunn (Josiah), nephews; Rick Offield, Jack Thom, Panther Riesling, and Juni Black, great-nephews and nieces; Ishyuux, Iim’nih and Ikchaxvaan Marshall, Wallace Donahue, Jesse and Brayton Cote, Aodhan, Deimos, Hayden and Isabella Johnson, Delate Slater IV, Pauline and Peter Jackson, Riley and Roman Dunn.

Loren was preceded by death by his father, Loren Offield Sr, his mother, Trella Aubrey, nephew, Nakima Joseph Frye, and niece, Tessa Donahue.

Pallbearers are Michael, Marcus, Dakota, Kehniwh, Chase and Lennox James Offield, Nathaniel and Dominick Dalizon, Robert Blake, Panther Risling, Nicknekich Hillman and Whitsiwe Marshall.

Honorary Pallbearers are Jon Burr Rogers Sr, Shawn Pine, Terry McCovey, George “Dick” Robbins, Keg Super, Dana Chisum, Ed Leach, Stanley Jones, Jimmy McLaughlin, Jess “Chuck” McLaughlin, Jeff Peters, Matt Douglas, Willie Harrison, Walt Cosce, Jake Blake, Victor Starritt, Dellavin McCovey, and Patrick Willson. Loren O left a lasting impression on all who knew him, the family would like to apologize for anyone who’s name was not mentioned. Please join us on this day to honor Loren O.

The family would like to express sincere thanks Dr. Hugh Kent, Paula McKinney RN, Jackie Dair MA, Orleans Volunteer Fire Department and the Hoopa Ambulance Services for taking such good care of him.

A wake will be held in the evening on Sunday June 25, 2023 at his home, 160 Panamnik Elders Housing, Orleans, California. Memorial Services will be on Monday June 26, 2023 at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Building in Orleans, California with Loren “Twofeathers” Offield officiating. Graveside services will be at the Aubrey Family Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Building.

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It is with great joy that we announce that Barbara Jean Ratzlaff has been reunited with her loving husband of 63 years, Donald D. Ratzlaff on April 28, 2023. Their love for each other was obvious to all through to their earthly end as they cherished each other’s company.

Born the daughter of Carl Sr. and Mabel Schnauer and sister to Carl Jr. Schnauer in Madera, CA on 6/3/1936. She is survived by her son Christopher David Ratzlaff, her daughter Faith Erin Ratzlaff, her brother Carl Schnauer and many nieces, nephews and their families.

She attended high school in Crescent City before attending Humboldt State University and meeting the love of her life. She graduated with a teaching credential from Fresno State University and returned to Humboldt County to build their home in Trinidad. She used her degree as a substitute teacher at Trinidad Elementary School until 1969. After moving to Greenville CA, she became Teacher/Director of the Indian Valley Pre-school Chapter of the Northern California Childhood Development program in Crescent Mills. Being a major advocate for the betterment of disadvantaged children in the area with love and patience, many of whom have flourished. She retired in 2003.

They returned to their forever home in Trinidad to live out their storied romance together, enjoying the beautiful vistas of the sea and of Trinidad Bay from the windows they were so proud of.

She was an amazing woman filled with love and compassion and will be missed by all that knew her.

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